Interiors: Regal English Christmas home

Interiors

Interiors: Regal English Christmas home

For Michele and her husband, Ryerson Symons, the 10-foot-high Christmas tree brings back many memories of England, since some of the
festive Christmas decorations date back to the couple’s very first Christmas there. “Ryerson’s family was visiting and we didn’t have a thing,” says Michele, “so I went out and bought various pieces from Peter Jones, one of the old Sloane Square department stores. I still have those decorations, and every year since then I’ve added to them – it doesn’t matter where I am, I always find something. Our collection is a true reflection of where we’ve been.” The tree features beautiful Murano glass balls, hand-stitched items, interesting ornaments that depict the six wives of Henry VIII, and hand-painted eggs from Prague.

Traditional Christmas treeThe huge tree in the library is decked out with ornaments collected over many years. “There’s no point in having a precious
Christmas tree that the kids can’t help with,” says homeowner Michele Leighton Symons. However, they pitch in after their mum has hung all of the Murano glass balls. The prints on the wall are of the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, England, housed in what became known colloquially as the Crystal Palace, and are a reminder to Michele of her thesis on Canada’s participation in the first World’s Fair. The English Regency Gothic Revival
chandelier was sourced in England as Michele planned the decor of her new house. Stylistically, it works beautifully with the late 19th-century Aesthetic Movement mirror and sconces.
English Regency round rent tableMichele has a story about most pieces in her home, including the round rent (or drum) table from the English Regency period in the hall. “A landlord would stand at such a table and spin it to the drawer assigned to each tenant as they queued to pay,” she explains. The circa 1775 red lacquered clock is in the chinoiserie style.
Tabletop decorA black lacquered Victorian papier mache tray with gilded detailing holds Egyptian blown-glass balls picked up during Michele’s travels.
Lavish living roomOne of the first things Michele did in the
living room was measure the space for her mirror. It fits perfectly, hung to sit on the cornice. “That’s how the French put their mirrors up. They never put them flush to the wall – they’re always tilted so you can see the room,” she explains. For a lush garland to
dress up the mantel for the holidays, Michele mixed fresh greenery with her collection of dried Christmas decorations, which she brought from England. The antique English
sofas were bought at a fair in New York. “They had been re-covered in pink satin damask, so they were very boudoir-esque,” says Michele. Now upholstered in Michele’s favourite colours, the pair anchor the formally arranged living room.
20th-century French mirrorAn early 20th-century
French mirror bounces light from the window into the
dining room. The walls are covered in
Farrow & Ball’s The Ringwold Papers, which is based on a silk pattern designed in the early 18th century.
Regal dining roomThe English Regency
dining table and chairs had been sitting in Michele’s basement in London, waiting for the perfect home. The table can seat up to 16, and at Christmas, Michele sets up a second table allowing her to seat 25 for dinner. The late 18th century English Georgian linen press holds family heirlooms and other
table linens Michele has collected. Three pieces of fragile decalcomania are displayed on top.
Holiday tablesettingMichele sets her holiday table with her collection of
red and green Murano glass. “I don’t set a table that’s perfectly matched,” she says. Her glass collection also includes Austrian and a wide range of Victorian ware.
English Regency chair and detailsIn the
living room, the black lacquered English Regency chair with gilded detailing dates back to about 1820 and is the style that was used to furnish the set in the BBC
Pride & Prejudice series.

Gift Guides

Stylish Christmas gifts you won't believe are under $50

Gift Guides

Stylish Christmas gifts you won't believe are under $50

Find the perfect gift for anyone on your list with these beautiful gifts all under $50.

We know: Expenses tend to add up over the holidays. From festive decorating to holiday entertaining and gift giving, of course, it’s hard to keep a budget under control. But giving a beautiful gift that will be loved and appreciated doesn’t mean spending a small fortune. Lovely, thoughtful gifts can be inexpensive yet meaningful. To help inspire you, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite gifts under $50!

1 Time For Tea Set: The perfect gift for the consummate tea lover on your shopping list this Christmas! This adorable tea set comes with a mug, a single-serve stainless steel tea infuser and a ceramic stir spoon, all perfectly perched on a wooden tray, making this easy to use any time. Trust us: Any tea lover will love this gift. Time For Tea Set, Indigo, $24.50.

2 All Natural Body Butter: Who doesn’t love the luxurious lather of a moisturizing body butter? This richly formulated, fair trade shea butter has vitamins A and E to quench dry skin and also has sweet almond and avocado oils for added moisture. Plus, this lotion’s hotel-chic packaging makes it a pretty countertop display, too! All Natural Body Butter, Bambeco, $22.

3 6x6 Instagram Collage: Help someone bring their Instagram photos to life with this beautiful Instagram display. Using Masterpix, photos are printed directly onto Corning® Gorilla® Glass, which is really thin, durable and clear. This is a great personalized gift that anyone would be thrilled to receive so they can display some of their favourite photos around the house. 6x6 Instagram Collage, Masterpix, $30.

4 Milk & Rose Glass Taper Candle Holders: Candles are a common Christmas gift but this year, why not give something a little different? These taper candle holders are absolutely exquisite and will delight any hostess who loves to make her table extra special when she entertains. Milk & Rose Glass Taper Candle Holders, White Lilac, $50.

5 Wood Calendar: We love the idea of personalized gifts and this wooden calendar is not only perfectly personal but also very handy heading into the new year. Choose 12 beautiful photos and turn them into a 12-month calendar. The printed pages sit in a handcrafted clipboard made from reclaimed beetle pine. This is a gift that will be treasured for years to come. Wood Calendar, Artifact Uprising, $30.

6 Pryce Bowl: At just $49.95, this bowl looks a lot more expensive than it is. Made of blown glass and featuring a hand painted platinum silver ring around the polished rim, this bowl will make a great centrepiece on any table. Its clean, classic look gives it an enduring appeal and it will look right at home on tables for generations to come. Pryce Bowl, Crate and Barrel, $49.95.

7 Cable Knit Pillow Cover: These super soft cable knit pillow covers are made from 100% organic cotton and will turn any sofa into an ideal napping spot. In a stylish shade of metal grey, this neutral pillow will easily slip into any decor scheme., Plus, check the website for the matching throw! Cable Knit Pillow Cover, Boll & Branch, $45.

8 Striped Marble and Wood Bookend: The bibliophile on your Christmas shopping list is sure to appreciate this gift. These bookends are made in India from interlocking pieces of mango wood and marble so not only will they help keep their bookcases in order, they’ll do so in some serious style! Striped Marble and Wood Bookend, West Elm, $49.

Gift Guides

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

Gift Guides

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

Satisfy even the most discerning epicureans on your list with one of these fashionable foodie-approved finds.

We all have that person in our life who can prepare an intricate meal without so much as glancing at a recipe. That person who dabbles in all things culinary related on a daily basis and has a kitchen pantry that rivals that of celebrity chef Mark McEwan (or it at least comes close). Not sure what to treat them to this holiday season? Browse through our list of food-related gift ideas for inspiration.

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14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

1 Juiced Up

A heart-smart treat for the health food aficionado in your life, this carefully curated six-pack of cold-pressed juices contains almost two pounds of fruit and veg in every bottle! Cold-pressed Juices, Dose Juice, $42 per 6-piece pack.

By: Style at Home
Source: Dose Juice

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

2 Cheese, Please

Nothing says holiday time quite like a good cheese board. The lace-motif detailing on this one will certainly make any selection of cheeses and chutneys shine. Ceramic Lacework Cheeseboard, Anthropologie, $38 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Anthropologie

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

3 Copper Feel

This elegant Art Deco-style coffee dripper is for your friend who has one foot planted firmly at home and the other off in some distant Parisian patisserie. Hario stainless copper Coffee Dripper, Indigo, $100.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

4 Caffeine Fix

If the Bat Cave had a coffee maker, this would be it. Nespresso’s latest boasts a matte black finish befitting anyone in need of a caffeine jolt before saving Gotham City. VertuoLine Coffee Machine in Matte Black, Nespresso, $249.

By: Style at Home
Source: Nespresso

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

5 Colonel Mustard

This high-ranking mustard deserves your salute. Flavoured with decadent wine and truffles – and only available for a limited time – it’s a covetable condiment fit for any top official. Black Truffle and Chablis Mustard, Maille, $43 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Maille

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

6 Into The Wild

These striking mugs echo exotic corners of the earth that yield top-notch coffee, from Sumatra to Costa Rica. Pair a mug with beans from the same region for a gift guaranteed to please any java junkie. Stamp Art Mugs, Starbucks, $19 each.

By: Style at Home
Source: Starbucks

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

7 Chic Sips

These pretty, precious and feminine flasks are almost too stylish to sully with alcohol – but everyone has a friend who would! Stainless steel Odeme Flasks, 90 ml,West Elm, $29 US each.

By: Style at Home
Source: West Elm

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

8 Style Strain

This vintage-look colander is a timeless classic that takes an everyday kitchen tool from dull to display-worthy. Copper-plated steel Colander in Gold, Anthropologie, $34 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Anthropologie

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

9 French Kiss

This Scandi-chic French press in pale pink (with a pretty copper detail) is not only a beautiful vessel for your morning brew, but also an ideal addition to any open shelf. Ceramic French Press in Sand, Yield Design Co., $120 US.

By: Style at Home
Source: Yield Design Co.

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

10 Grill on the Go

No one should ever find themselves camping or picnicking without freshly grilled meat close at hand. And thanks to this portable grill, your loved ones will never have to. Wild & Wolf Portable Barbecue, Shop AGO, $94.

By: Style at Home
Source: Shop AGO

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

11 Get Jelly With It

Treat fans of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to “the gift that keeps on giving.” Translation: their very own Jelly of the Month Club gift set! (Reference lost on you? See here.) Griswold Jelly of the Month Club Gift Set, Retro Festive, $40.

By: Style at Home
Source: Retro Festive

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

12 Cured Chocolate

It may resemble salami, but this treat is made entirely out of chocolate. Containing hazelnuts, almonds, cherries and even rum, the confection is a certified crowd-pleaser – especially when presented on a cutting board. Chocolate salami, SOMA Chocolatemaker, $23.

By: Style at Home
Source: SOMA Chocolatemaker

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

13 Main Squeeze

Count on Alessi to make a conventional utensil undeniably sleek. Crafted from stainless steel and boasting a unique shape, the modern citrus squeezer also doubles as a pestle. Valerio Citrus Squeezer, Alessi, $71.

By: Style at Home
Source: Alessi

14 appetizing gift ideas for serious foodies

14 Spread the Love

Building a beautiful cheese platter is something of an art form, but it helps to have stylish spreaders to complement the nibbles. This gorgeous set with rose quartz handles will make any table sparkle. Rose Quartz Spreaders, HomeSense, $15 4-piece set.

Renovations

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

When you flip through the pages of your favourite design magazine or scroll through endless photos of gorgeous homes on Pinterest, chances are you’ll find yourself wondering about the paint colours on the walls. Finding the perfect shade of paint can be hard. There are so many colours to choose from so how do you distinguish a great grey from a dull one? How do you determine which shade of white will make your home look uber-chic and which will look like primer? The answer? Ask the experts! Designers know their way around a paint deck so we checked in with six of them, who each provided us with their top three go-to paint colours. Find out which shades are their favourites and where they use them.

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The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Jillian Harris: Dream Nights by Cloverdale Paints

I have been working closely with Cloverdale Paints and have three go-to off-whites that I LOVE. OW159 “Dream Nights” is a soft off white, that is the perfect neutral. It’s light enough to brighten a room, but has enough pigment to also provide depth.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Jillian Harris: White Delight by Cloverdale Paints

8436 “White Delight” is perfect for creating a warm tone on tone white space, a look that I love. Similar to my other two favourites, White Delight offers contrast, which is key to creating visual interest in all spaces.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Lisa Canning: Zeppelin by CIL

The colour I specify most during my one-hour interior design consultations is Zeppelin by CIL. It's a warm grey-beige and a reliable neutral. It's a perfect colour when one wants to stay neutral and works in modern or traditional aesthetics alike.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Nyla Free: Simply White by Benjamin Moore

This has been a go-to colour for us for years. It's the perfect warm, yet bright white for any and all rooms in the house including trims and cabinetry. Often, when we use Simply White, it's on the walls, trims and ceiling to create a clean and modern backdrop.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Nyla Free: Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore

This off-white/pale gray changes beautifully in the light and is often one we use in bedrooms for a soft glow. It has a creamy undertone however does not feel traditional. This is one of my all-time favourites.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Natalie DiScala
Source: Martin Tessler

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Nyla Free: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

Revere Pewter is a classic grey that pairs perfectly with white trims, providing definition and character in a space. It is excellent for living and dining rooms and can steer more towards a traditional feel.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Natalie DiScala
Source: Robin Stubbert

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tara Fingold: Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore

This colour is our top go-to colour at TFI! It is an extremely versatile colour. Silver Satin is a light grey that almost reads white and works in virtually any space. This colour adds a certain freshness to walls without being too white or too grey. Whether it is used on the walls or for cabinetry, we just can’t enough of this subtle yet beautiful colour!

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tara Fingold: Collingwood by Benjamin Moore

We love this colour as it works well when pulling together taupes and greys. It reads neutral and allows for a lot of flexibility with the rest of the colours in any room. In this kitchen, the colour sets the tone for the room allowing the cabinetry and furniture to stand out. Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood is a classic colour that never goes out of style.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tara Fingold: Oxygen by Benjamin Moore

We love Benjamin Moore’s Oxygen when we want to add some colour to our walls. It is a great powder blue which has a certain softness to it. In this girl’s room, we wanted to create a space that was playful and fun but not overwhelmingly girly. Painting the walls with this subdued blue as opposed to a light pink was the perfect way to achieve the type of look we wanted.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tim Lam: Wedding White by ICI

This off-white has a drop of cream, making it the perfect, versatile backdrop for any colour scheme or decorating style for those who like to change things up.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Natalie DiScala
Source: Donna Griffith

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tim Lam: Vista by Para Paints

I love white rooms but I also like a vibrant pop of color. This cheerful blue brightens up grey days and complements the elaborate mix of patterns and the bold colours I injected into this living room.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Natalie DiScala
Source: Donna Griffith

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Tim Lam: Film Festival by Para

Bedrooms are mainly for the evenings so it makes sense to use a darker hue that is soothing and calm. This warm taupe grey is an exact colour match to the grasscloth wallpaper I installed on the main wall, creating a seamless transition from wallpaper to paint. I also selected a high gloss finish so the paint also echoes the shimmers from the wallpaper.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Natalie DiScala
Source: Donna Griffith

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Jennifer Flores: Seapearl by Benjamin Moore

This is a warm off-white that isn’t too creamy. Soft and sophisticated, it’s calming and has a depth that makes it suited for bedrooms and cozy spaces. It looks great with dark wood tones and bronze or black metals.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Jennifer Flores: Yoga Stretch by PARA Paints

This grey-green is cool and modern and works beautifully in bedrooms or bathrooms where you’re craving a hint of subtle colour. It can make whatever it’s paired with feel updated and fresh. I especially love it in rooms that get cool northern light; it reads almost like a mint but without the iciness.

The go-to paint colours designers' swear by

Jennifer Flores: Network Access by PARA Paints

This is my go-to grey. Many greys can veer too brown or too blue but this one doesn’t have any strong undertones. It’s a livable colour that would be equally at home in a living room or bedroom. I love it paired with warm neutrals, creams and natural wood tones to create a tone-on-tone palette.